John Ball Zoo Saw Record Attendance In 2014

2014 was a record-breaking year for John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids.

The zoo has seen over 494,000 visitors this season, which is the most they've ever seen in one season. By the official end of the 2014 season, the zoo expects to have welcomed over 500,000 visitors.

In a statement on Monday, Zoo CEO Kevin O’Neill said that there will be “plenty of hoopla when that magical 500,000th visitor walks through the gates!”

The statement also said that the zoo's attendance has increased steadily over the past few years. Last year 469,259 visitors walked through the zoo's gates.

Officials say the increase is due to the new animals and exhibits they've been adding over the past few years. This year, the zoo opened a new tiger exhibit.

The zoo will close for the season on November 3.